The River Thames

About the Thames

Thames River Ports

Sail the Thames or visit London on a European river cruise extension

UNESCO World Heritage Sites along the River Thames

Along the River Thames and nearby you can find these amazing UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Visits to some may be included in your river cruise itinerary, but some may require some creative travel planning by your River Cruise Artist in order to visit. Learn more below about these UNESCO Sites and the history you can experience when you visit them. Let River Cruise Your Way take you away to the history around the River Thames.

Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine’s Abbey, And St Martin’s Church

Although not on the River Thames, Canterbury is a day excursion away from the mouth of the Thames as it reaches the North Sea. Canterbury, in Kent, has been the seat of the spiritual head of the Church of England for nearly five centuries and Canterbury Cathedral is testament to this history. Canterbury’s other important monuments are the modest Church of St Martin, the oldest church in England; the ruins of the Abbey of St Augustine, a reminder of the saint’s evangelizing role in the Heptarchy from 597; and Christ Church Cathedral, a breathtaking mixture of Romanesque and Gothic, where Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered in 1170.

Maritime Greenwich

Set on the banks of the River Thames just east of London, Greenwich is a popular stop for river cruisers. The group of buildings at Greenwich and the park in which they sit, symbolize English artistic and scientific research and works in the 17th and 18th centuries. The Queen’s House was the first Palladian building in England, while the complex that was until recently the Royal Naval College was designed by Christopher Wren. The park was designed by André Le Nôtre, and contains the Old Royal Observatory, the work of Wren and the scientist Robert Hooke. Tour Greenwich the home of Greenwich Mean Time and step onto 0 Degrees longitude.

Tower of London

The large block White Tower is a typical example of Norman military architecture, whose influence was felt throughout the region. The White Tower, part of the whole of the complex, was built on the River Thames by William the Conqueror in order to protect the city of London and assert his power over the people. The Tower of London is an imposing fortress with centuries of history that has become one of the symbols of royalty built around the White Tower. The Tower of London can be seen from the River Thames as you cruise towards London near the Tower Bridge.

Palace of Westminster And Westminster Abbey Including Saint Margaret’s Church

Westminster Palace, rebuilt from the year 1840 on the site of important medieval remains, is an impressive example of neo-Gothic architecture. This historical site also includes the small medieval Church of Saint Margaret, built in Perpendicular Gothic style, and Westminster Abbey, where all the sovereigns since the 11th century have been crowned. The Palace and Abbey and surrounding buildings are of great historic significance and continue to be important to the royal traditions of the United Kingdom today.

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

The Kew Gardens just south of London along the River Thames is a historic landscape garden featuring elements that illustrate significant periods of the art of gardens from the 18th to the 20th centuries. The gardens house botanic collections that have been considerably enriched through the centuries. Since their creation in 1759, the gardens have made a significant and uninterrupted contribution to the study of plant diversity and economic botany and are open for public enjoyment. Make time to visit Kew Gardens while you cruise the River Thames.

Your Thames River Cruise Awaits!

Are you ready to start planning your Thames River Cruise Vacation Your Way? A River Cruise Artist at River Cruise Your Way is ready to be your vacation concierge. Contact us today at 1-800-259-7612 or use the form below and let us know when it is most convenient to call you, we will confirm via e-mail, and then reach out at the agreed upon time and date.